Minor hockey player suspended after calling out racism on the ice
A 16-year-old claims another hockey player called him a racist slur during a March 7 match. When he reported it to the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA), both players were suspended for seven games. The question is – why?
Zach Mark, the head coach for the New Hamburg Junior Firebirds U-18, said he witnessed the on-ice altercation between JJ Jacobs and a player from the opposing team.
“JJ told us that the player said: ‘Good job, little Black boy,’ and then the N-word,” Mark told CTV News.
JJ allegedly called the other player racist and also used a profanity.
“It was pretty heartbreaking,” his mother Patti Jacobs said. “I can tell you that this isn’t the first time that this has happened to him, unfortunately. After this incident occurred, I found out it happened multiple other times during the season as well. I was really happy that he actually spoke up and said something this time.”
JJ Jacobs in an undated photo. (Submitted)
Following the guidelines set out by the OMHA, the incident was reported to the referee who issued a warning to players on both benches. One of the opposing coaches also apologized to Jacobs on behalf of their coaching staff after the game.
The Jacobs’ later filed a complaint with the OMHA and received a response just a few days before the team’s first playoff game.
“I got a call from Patti saying: ‘Hey, they just suspended JJ for seven games.’ I was like: ‘For what?’” Mark recalled. “So, you’re holding racism to the same standard as calling a guy a racist? We were all just shocked that JJ got anything out of this.”
The family appealed the decision.
The OMHA sent a statement to CTV News which read, in part: “The player who made a discriminatory slur has been handed a seven-game suspension. The other player who responded received a three-game suspension that was reduced from an original ruling of seven games.”
The decision still doesn’t sit well with JJ’s mother.
“Every situation is unique and different and I think they looked at this from a very blanketed perspective and didn’t really pay attention to the details of it,” said Patti. “We understand that kids chirp each other on the ice. But when it goes to this next level, that’s when mindsets need to shift a little bit and say: ‘OK, this is a little bit more than calling someone a jerk.’ I think, from that perspective, it just wasn’t assessed appropriately, or fairly, in any way.”
JJ Jacobs in an undated photo. (Submitted)
Even though JJ’s suspension was reduced from seven to three games, the timing of the decision meant he missed the championships and it essentially ended his minor hockey career. Even more disappointing to JJ was the fact that he had a heart condition which kept out of competitive sports for three years, and this was his first season back on the ice.
While Jacobs won’t be back with the team next season, there are still concerns about what’s being done to address hate in hockey.
“These kids that are still coming up through OMHA and playing through their organization, they need to know that they’re protected and that they can speak up because this is telling them otherwise,” Patti explained.
JJ’s coach agrees.
“Inclusivity needs to be a topic of conversation in hockey,” Mark said. “It’s probably one of the most white-dominated sports, when you look at the professional level.”
JJ Jacobs did not want to share his story on camera with CTV News but said minor hockey’s top priority should be making sure all players feel protected and comfortable speaking up if they experience discrimination.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Grayson Murray's parents say the two-time PGA Tour winner died of suicide
Grayson Murray's parents said Sunday their 30-year-old son took his own life, just one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event.
2 died in plane crash near Squamish, B.C., police confirm
Two people died after a plane went down in a remote area near Squamish, B.C. on Friday, authorities have confirmed.
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
Indianapolis 500 delayed as strong storm forces fans to evacuate Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The start of the Indianapolis 500 was delayed as a strong storm pushed through the area Sunday, forcing Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials to evacuate about 125,000 fans who had already arrived for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
Some birds may use 'mental time travel,' study finds
Real quick — what did you have for lunch yesterday? Were you with anyone? Where were you? Can you picture the scene? The ability to remember things that happened to you in the past, especially to go back and recall little incidental details, is a hallmark of what psychologists call episodic memory — and new research indicates that it’s an ability humans may share with birds called Eurasian jays.
Hamas rocket attack from Gaza sets off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv for the first time in months
Hamas fired a barrage of rockets from Gaza that set off air raid sirens as far away as Tel Aviv for the first time in months on Sunday in a show of resilience more than seven months into Israel's massive air, sea and ground offensive.